This uneven portrait of Jimi Hendrix specifically as a guitarist, rather than a hero for a generation, is best regarded as an affectionate tribute rather than a definitive biog. Director Jon Brewer, who has previously helmed docs on BB King and others, deserves a nod for bringing in large numbers of Hendrix’s surviving contemporaries (Eric Burdon, Dave Mason, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Chris Squire and many more) plus an aunt and his younger brother Leon. Brewer also pulls off a coup by getting Slash to narrate and provide much of the talking-head expertise, but The Guitar Hero isn’t technical enough to satisfy guitar geeks, or indeed wide enough in its perspective.

The main aspects of Hendrix’s technique, which revolved around rapid legato picking and blues bends, coupled with his astounding showmanship, aren’t addressed in the detail they deserve. Slash’s claim that Hendrix had “pretty much everything” as a guitarist also misses the important point that many of today’s soloing techniques hadn’t been invented back then. This and other oversights make this DVD interesting rather than essential. Where it does score highly is in the recollections of the various guests, such as Lemmy of Motörhead, who reveals that he was due to audition for the post of Hendrix’s bass player two days after his death. Now there’s an image to savour.